The three companies have joined an EPA-industry partnership designed to promote environmentally sound management of used electronics. In addition, the CEOs of Dell and Sprint signed a voluntary commitment with the EPA to promote a U.S.-based electronics recycling market.
Under the EPA strategy published yesterday, called the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship (pdf), the federal government’s purchasing arm will only buy IT products that comply with environmental performance standards, and will ensure that all government electronics are reused or recycled properly.
The strategy also commits the federal government to
- Promote the development of more efficient and sustainable electronic products;
- Support recycling options and systems for American consumers; and
- Strengthen America’s role in the international electronics stewardship arena.
The collaboration aims to encourage businesses and consumers to recycle their electronics with certified recyclers, and for electronic recyclers to become certified, the EPA says.
“A robust electronics recycling industry in America would create new opportunities to efficiently and profitably address a growing pollution threat,” said EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson.